Continuing the series of music videos on TSS, a politically expressive film for Irish musician Hozier.

Canty and Thompson artfully use the ‘locked box’ to symbolize both repressed love, secrets and the sacrifices required to maintain the simplest of  human rights in an environment of bigotry. Following the tragic paths and eventual punishment of two young men, we are left wondering as to the ultimate fate of both them and also the family that may have been ill-prepared to cope with such an opposition to cultural norms, yet suffer anyway for the ingrained societal ignorance they passively ignored.

My church offers no absolution
She tells me, ‘Worship in the bedroom’
The only heaven I’ll be sent to
Is when I’m alone with you

I was born sick,
But I love it
Command me to be well
Amen. Amen. Amen

I love the bold use of black and white in capturing both roaring fire and rolling countryside, leveling our views of sub-urbanity and the insidious, compressed violence it contains. Carefully woven in shots of birds and planes show achingly tantalizing shots of freedom for our protagonists, and I defy anyone not to feel a lurching heart at the morally indecisive imagery of the final scene. Courageous work from talented directors and an inspiring musician.

Great write-up of the piece is also here from Mother Jones.

Lyrics link

Directed by: Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson (link)

Released: 2013